As most of the world is making a transition into noiseless EVs, there are still some of us that enjoy the rasp of fossil fuels being spewed out of the exhaust system of an ICE. Well, a new automated camera-based system could now be fining New Yorkers with overtly loud vehicles.
New York is commonly known as the city that never sleeps but a recent initiative by Governor Kathy Hochul looks to change this and curb noise pollution in the vast metropolis. In September of 2021 she passed the SLEEP bill into state law which raised fines for excessively loud exhausts between $150 to $1000. While this is the highest in the USA, it also makes the most sense since the vast majority of the population live within earshot of a road or street.
The battle against overtly loud vehicles is now fully underway where a computerised camera that holds a decibel metre can activate the camera to snap a photo of the vehicle registration if noise exceeds Section 386 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Following the same progress as a speeding fine, an automated mailing system then sends the offender a citation.
Things get interesting here, in order to avoid a $875 plus fine (a gobsmacking R13k depending on the exchange rate), the offenders are then required to bring their car to a specified inspection station and remedy their overtly loud vehicles. The plot twist is that the inspection station is actually a sewage treatment plant in Brooklyn. We think this is a bit of a snide tactic rather than an honest mistake.
One of the first few victims of the new system was driving a BMW M3 that may have to undergo the misfortune of paying the fine.
There will be a re-evaluation on the 30th of June 2022 where residents who are opposed to the system can express their feelings but it is unlikely any of it will be rescinded due to the general consensus of the populus wanting to live in more serene conditions.
